106550 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 249 / Monday, December 30, 2024 / Notices 

1See Trial Testing Redesigned Naturalization 

Test for Naturalization Applications, 87 FR 76634 

(Dec. 15, 2022). 

2See Executive Order 14012 (February 2, 2021), 

available at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/ 

FR-2021-02-05/pdf/2021-02563.pdf. 

3See Trial Testing Redesigned Naturalization 

Test for Naturalization Applications, 87 FR 76634 

(Dec. 15, 2022). 

4 Id. 

5See Naturalization Test Redesign Development 

2022 available at https://www.uscis.gov/citizenshipresource-center/naturalization-test-and-studyresources/naturalization-test-redesigndevelopment-2022 (last visited Nov. 20, 2024). 

6See The CIS Ombudsman’s Webinar: 

Engagement with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 

Services (USCIS) on the Naturalization Test 

Redesign Initiative, available at https://

www.dhs.gov/publication/cis-ombudsmanswebinar-naturalization-test-redesign-initiative (last 

visited Nov. 20, 2024). 

7See, for example, Bill Bliss, Citizenship Test 

Revision Will Create New Barrier to Naturalization 

(Mar. 2, 2023), https://bill-bliss.medium.com/ 

citizenship-test-revision-will-create-new-barriers-tonaturalization-aab015cbf277 (last visited Nov 20, 

2024). 

8 Id. 

Special Emphasis Panel; Early Phase Clinical 

Trials of Natural Products (NP). 

Date: February 21, 2025. 

Time: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

Agenda: To review and evaluate grant 

applications. 

Address: National Center for 

Complementary and Integrative, Democracy 

II, 6707 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, MD 

20892. 

Meeting Format: Virtual Meeting. 

Contact Person: Jessica M. McKlveen, 

Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Office of 

Scientific Review, Division of Extramural 

Activities, NCCIH, NIH, 6707 Democracy 

Boulevard, Suite 401, Bethesda, MD 20892— 

547, jessica.mcklveen@nih.gov. 

(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Program Nos. 93.213, Research and Training 

in Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 

National Institutes of Health, HHS) 

Dated: December 20, 2024. 

David W. Freeman, 

Supervisory Program Analyst, Office of 

Federal Advisory Committee Policy. 

[FR Doc. 2024–31213 Filed 12–27–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4140–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 

Services 

[CIS No. 2796–25; DHS Docket No. USCIS– 

2022–0011] 

Termination of Trial Testing of 

Redesigned Naturalization Test for 

Naturalization Applications 

AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and 

Immigration Services (USCIS), 

Department of Homeland Security 

(DHS). 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: On December 15, 2022, DHS 

published a Federal Register Notice 

entitled ‘‘Trial Testing of Redesigned 

Naturalization Test for Naturalization 

Applications,’’ which announced it 

intended to conduct a nationwide trial 

of planned changes to the naturalization 

test, including a standardized Englishspeaking test, as part of the requirement 

to demonstrate an understanding of the 

English language, and a civics test with 

updated content and format. Most 

comments received on the proposed 

trial test, including those from 

immigrant advocacy organizations and 

external stakeholders, expressed 

concerns about the trial test. Therefore, 

USCIS will no longer pursue the 

announced trial test. 

DATES: As of December 30, 2024, USCIS 

will no longer pursue the trial test as 

described in 87 FR 76634 (Dec. 15, 

2022). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Mary Flores, Office of Citizenship, U.S. 

Citizenship and Immigration Services 

(USCIS), Department of Homeland 

Security (DHS), 5900 Capital Gateway 

Drive, Camp Springs, MD 20746; 

telephone 240–721–3000 or email 

natzredesign22@uscis.dhs.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

On December 15, 2022, USCIS issued 

a notice indicating its plan to conduct 

a trial of both a standardized Englishspeaking test (use of photographs which 

the applicant would be asked to 

describe) as part of the requirement to 

demonstrate an understanding of the 

English language and a civics test with 

updated content and format (multiple 

choice test).1 The Executive Order on 

Restoring Faith in Our Legal 

Immigration Systems and Strengthening 

Integration and Inclusion Efforts for 

New Americans,2 directed DHS to 

eliminate barriers in and otherwise 

improve the existing naturalization 

process including the civics and English 

language tests. Along with the Executive 

Order and feedback from stakeholders 

about the standardization and structure 

of the naturalization test, USCIS 

developed the trial test for the 

naturalization test redesign. USCIS 

announced conducting the trial as part 

of its effort to redesign the 

naturalization test to better ensure that 

the English-speaking part of the English 

Language requirements is standardized 

and sufficiently tests the ability to 

understand words in ordinary usage in 

the English language.3 Furthermore, 

USCIS intended to update the civics test 

content to reflect current best practices 

in test design and to redesign the civics 

test.4

II. Rationale for Termination 

USCIS hosted virtual public 

engagements on the naturalization test 

redesign trial tests on January 12, 2023, 

March 3, 2023, April 28, 2023, and May 

31, 2023.5 Additionally, USCIS and the 

Department of Homeland Security 

(DHS)’ Office of the CIS Ombudsman 

hosted a webinar on July 19, 2023.6

These engagements provided an 

overview of the proposed changes and 

next steps, including seeking volunteer 

community-based organizations (CBOs) 

that work with immigrant English 

language learners and lawful permanent 

residents preparing for naturalization to 

take the trial test, and utilizing the 

results of the trial to support changes to 

the naturalization test. During these 

engagements, USCIS invited all 

interested parties to submit written data, 

views, comments, and arguments on all 

aspects of the proposed trial testing. At 

these engagements, some comments 

USCIS received were in opposition to 

the trial test. USCIS also received 

comments through email or submitted 

letters that opposed the trial test or had 

positive comments. USCIS received 

more than 1300 comments from 

stakeholders from engagements, emails 

and submitted letters. The majority of 

comments opposed the trial testing. 

USCIS received some positive 

comments about the trial English Test 

which indicated an appreciation for a 

revised test, a focus of analysis-driven 

approach, and attempt to make the test 

fairer and more efficient, and that the 

trial test may be easier for lower-level 

students. Most of the public feedback, 

however, expressed concerns about the 

proposed changes to the Englishspeaking naturalization test. These 

commenters stated the change: 

• Would create new barriers to 

naturalization rather than improve the 

naturalization process in keeping with 

Executive Order 14012 on Restoring 

Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems 

and Strengthening Integration and 

Inclusion Efforts for New Americans.7

• Would be adding a testing 

requirement, creating an additional task 

for the naturalization interview and a 

new exam for the applicant to prepare 

for, and would not elicit an applicant’s 

English proficiency in as relevant or 

accurate a manner as the current 

speaking evaluation.8

USCIS received some positive 

comments on the announcement of the 

multiple-choice format of the trial test, 

including that it would level the test 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 249 / Monday, December 30, 2024 / Notices 106551 

9 Id. 

10See, for example, Immigration Legal Resource 

Center (IRLC), Naturalization Test Redesign (Sept. 

8, 2023), https://www.ilrc.org/resources/ 

naturalization-test-redesign (last visited Nov 20, 

2024). 

11 Id. 

12 Id. 

13See Executive Order 14012 (February 2, 2021), 

available at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/ 

FR-2021-02-05/pdf/2021-02563.pdf. 

14See USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, 

Citizenship and Naturalization, Part E, English and 

Civics Testing and Exceptions, Chapter 2, English 

and Civics Testing [12 USCIS–PM E.2], available at 

https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12- 

part-e-chapter-2 (last visited Nov. 20, 2024). See 

also Study for the Test, available at https://

www.uscis.gov/citizenship/find-study-materialsand-resources/study-for-the-test (last visited Nov. 

20, 2024). 

better for English as a second language 

students at all levels. Most feedback, 

however, opposed changing the civics 

test to a multiple-choice format. These 

commenters stated the change: 

• Would require reading 

comprehension skills at a significantly 

higher level of English proficiency and 

reading vocabulary knowledge than is 

currently required for naturalization.9

• Would require test-taking skills in 

multiple choice format that is not 

currently required of naturalization 

applicants.10

• Would create new challenges for 

adult learners because it requires a 

higher level of reading ability that 

cannot be met by low-literacy adults 

who learn orally.11

• Would pose a barrier to those 

without formal education.12

The objective of the trial was to 

determine an efficient way to reduce 

undue barriers 13 to taking the 

naturalization test and the majority of 

the feedback received revealed concerns 

that the trial version of the test may 

increase burdens on applicants. 

Therefore, USCIS has decided to 

terminate the previously proposed trial 

test altogether. 

III. Termination Is Immediately 

Effective 

The proposed trial test is terminated 

effective immediately. USCIS continues 

to use the current 2008 version of the 

English and civics test.14

Ur M. Jaddou, 

Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 

Services, Department of Homeland Security. 

[FR Doc. 2024–30213 Filed 12–27–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 9111–97–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND 

URBAN DEVELOPMENT 

[Docket No. FR–6505–N–01] 

Request for Information Regarding 

Resilience Measures and Insurance 

Coverage 

AGENCY: Office of Policy Development 

and Research, Department of Housing 

and Urban Development (HUD). 

ACTION: Request for information. 

SUMMARY: Homeowners and housing 

providers have experienced significant 

increases in property insurance 

premiums and deductibles in the past 

several years, along with reductions in 

insurance coverage, added 

requirements, and withdrawals of 

insurance companies from certain 

markets. In July 2024, HUD convened an 

insurance summit to address challenges 

in the property insurance market. The 

insurance summit highlighted the need 

to increase property resilience to natural 

hazards and to clarify the relationship 

between resilience measures and costs 

to property owners, including the cost 

of insurance. Through this Request for 

Information (RFI), HUD seeks public 

input regarding how best to assess 

measures to increase the resilience of 

residential properties to natural hazards 

and extreme weather. This information 

will allow HUD to develop policies that 

better support HUD’s program 

participants in increasing resilience to 

natural hazards, including extreme 

weather, and accessing affordable 

insurance for their properties. 

DATES: Comment Due Date: February 28, 

2025. Late-filed comments will be 

considered to the extent practicable. 

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are 

invited to submit comments responsive 

to this RFI. All submissions must refer 

to the docket number and title of the 

RFI. Commenters are encouraged to 

identify the number of the specific 

question or questions to which they are 

responding. Responses should include 

the name(s) of the person(s) or 

organization(s) filing the comment; 

however, because any responses 

received by HUD will be publicly 

available, responses should not include 

any personally identifiable information 

or confidential commercial information. 

There are two methods for submitting 

public comments. 

1. Electronic Submission of 

Comments. Interested persons may 

submit comments electronically through 

the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 

http://www.regulations.gov. 

2. Submission of Comments by Mail. 

Comments may be submitted by mail to 

the Regulations Division, Office of 

General Counsel, Department of 

Housing and Urban Development, 451 

7th Street SW, Room 10276, 

Washington, DC 20410–0500. HUD 

strongly encourages commenters to 

submit their feedback and 

recommendations electronically. 

Electronic submission of comments 

allows the commenter maximum time to 

prepare and submit a response, ensures 

timely receipt by HUD, and enables 

HUD to make comments immediately 

available to the public. Comments 

submitted electronically through the 

http://www.regulations.gov website can 

be viewed by other commenters and 

interested members of the public. 

Commenters should follow the 

instructions provided on that site to 

submit comments electronically. 

Note: To receive consideration as public 

comments, comments must be submitted 

through one of the two methods specified 

above. Again, all submissions must refer to 

the docket number and title of the notice. 

No Facsimile Comments. Facsimile 

(FAX) comments are not acceptable. 

Public Inspection of Public 

Comments. All comments and 

communications properly submitted to 

HUD will be available for public 

inspection and copying between 8 a.m. 

and 5 p.m. weekdays at the above 

address. Due to security measures at the 

HUD Headquarters building, an advance 

appointment to review the public 

comments must be scheduled by calling 

the Regulations Division at (202) 708– 

3055 (this is not a toll-free number). 

HUD welcomes and is prepared to 

receive calls from individuals who are 

deaf or hard of hearing, as well as from 

individuals with speech or 

communication disabilities. To learn 

more about how to make an accessible 

telephone call, please visit https://

www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/ 

telecommunications-relay-service-trs. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Todd Richardson, General Deputy 

Assistant Secretary, Office of Policy 

Development and Research, Department 

of Housing and Urban Development, 

451 7th Street SW, Room 8100, 

Washington, DC 20410–0500; telephone 

number 202–402–5706 (this is not a tollfree number). HUD welcomes and is 

prepared to receive calls from 

individuals who are deaf or hard of 

hearing, as well as individuals with 

speech or communication disabilities. 

To learn more about how to make an 

accessible telephone call, please visit 

https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/ 

telecommunications-relay-service-trs. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1